Dennis Byrd becomes New York Jets' honorary captain
Ryan was astounded when he received the package in the mail. He quickly called Byrd and requested that he come and talk to the team.
"That blew me away," Ryan said this week on his weekly appearance a radio show. "I couldn't believe it. I was like, my gosh, I couldn't believe that he would send it to me. I wasn't deserving of that honor. I wanted our team to hear what he was telling me
as well. It was a powerful message, that's for sure."
On the Saturday before the game, Byrd stood before the Jets at the team’s hotel and had the biggest mouths in the NFL completely shut. Byrd had every person in the room hanging onto his words.
"It was hot in the room, but the only thing you heard was the air conditioning running," Ryan said. "You could have heard a pin drop and everything else. The guys were so, I think, in awe of him and respectful of him. He always talked about 'I'm a Jet and
I will always be a Jet.'"
After the Jets made an incredible win over the number one team in the NFL, many players said that it was Byrd who inspired them to victory. Byrd said that he never got a chance to celebrate a playoff win or come close to a Super Bowl after his career ended
at the age of 26. He told the team that he would give everything he owns for a chance to play one more game.
“This,” he said, “is the moment I never got to experience.”
LaDainian Tomlinson had one touchdown reception in Sunday’s game and called Byrd’s speech “the most emotional thing I have ever heard.”
When Braylon Edwards made an incredible 15-yard catch and run touchdown while dragging two players with him into the end zone, he said that he felt Byrd’s “spirits” with him.
"He would give anything to be able to play just one more game," Ryan said of Byrd. "I think that really hit home with the guys."
On Sunday, the inspirational defensive lineman will join the Jets as they walk onto the field for the coin toss against the Pittsburgh Steelers, trying to win their first conference championship ever.
"It can end at any moment," Sanchez said of Byrd's message to the team. "That was just a good reminder for us of how fortunate we are. His story definitely gave us inspiration last week and it's just fitting that he's going to lead us out before the game."
The Jets will be playing against the Steelers on Sunday January 23 at 6:30 PM ET in the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field.
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